UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION In re: City of Detroit, Michigan, Debtor. Bankruptcy Case No. 13-53846 Honorable Thomas J. Tucker Chapter 9 CITY OF DETROIT S OBJECTION TO DETROIT POLICE LIEUTENANTS AND SERGEANTS ASSOCIATION S ( DPLSA ) MOTION FOR ENTRY OF AN ORDER MODIFYING CLAIM NO. 1881 FILED BY THE DPLSA TO CLARIFY THAT THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THAT PORTION OF CLAIM NO. 1881 RELATED TO LUMP SUM PAYMENTS FOR BANKED TIME FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM ( DROP ) HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND RENDERED MOOT BY TERMS AS WRITTEN OF THE DPLSA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AS ADOPTED IN THE CITY S PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT The City of Detroit, Michigan ( City ), by its undersigned counsel, files this Objection to the Detroit Police Lieutenants and Sergeants Association s ( DPLSA ) Motion for Entry of an Order Modifying Claim No. 1881 Filed by the DPLSA to Clarify that the Subject Matter of that Portion of Claim No. 1881 Related to Lump Sum Payments for Banked Time for Participants in the Deferred Retirement Option Program ( DROP ) Has Been Resolved and Rendered Moot by Terms as Written of the DPLSA Collective Bargaining Agreement as Adopted in the City s Plan of Adjustment [Doc. No. 10247] ( DROP Motion ). In support of this Objection, the City respectfully states as follows: The DROP Motion requests that this Court order the City to elevate DPLSA s general unsecured claim ( DROP Bankruptcy Claim ) above all other unsecured claims and treat it under a subsequently executed collective bargaining agreement. DPLSA already acknowledged that the DROP Bankruptcy Claim is a general unsecured claim, however, when it filed it as a general unsecured claim. The subsequently executed collective bargaining agreement did not 1 13-53846-tjt Doc 10265 Filed 11/17/15 Entered 11/17/15 16:34:04 Page 1 of 10
address the DROP Bankruptcy Claim much less mandate that it be treated outside of the City s confirmed Plan. Consequently, the DROP Bankruptcy Claim should be treated under the Plan as a Class 14 Other Unsecured Claim. DPLSA also takes inconsistent positions on this Court s jurisdiction to hear the DROP Motion and the City s pending retiree spouse motion. 1 DPLSA cites to the City s pending retiree spouse motion to demonstrate that the Court has jurisdiction over the DROP Motion even though it has consistently maintained that the Court lacks jurisdiction over the retiree spouse motion. To avoid inconsistent results, the City respectfully requests that the DROP Motion be decided in conjunction with the City s retiree spouse motion. 1. Background of DPLSA s DROP motion. Prior to the City s bankruptcy filing, DPLSA pursued and won an arbitration award compelling the City to immediately pay out DROP monies to certain DPLSA members. DROP Motion, exhibit 6A, and see attachment 1D thereto, June 28, 2013 opinion and award of Arbitrator E.R. Scales. After the City s bankruptcy filing, DPLSA filed the DROP Bankruptcy Claim. DROP Motion, exhibit 6A. As DPLSA acknowledged through the filing of the DROP Bankruptcy Claim, the DROP monies allegedly owed to certain DPLSA members are general unsecured claims. Under both the City s confirmed Plan of Adjustment ( Plan ), and black letter bankruptcy law, the DROP Bankruptcy Claim is to be treated as a class 14, unsecured prepetition claim. 2 Plan, Art. I.A.60 & 262, pages 6, 21; In re Lipa, 433 B.R. 668, 669-70 (Bankr. 1 City of Detroit s Motion for (I) Determination that the Detroit Police Lieutenants and Sergeants Association has Violated the Terms of the City of Detroit s Confirmed Plan of Adjustment and the Order Confirming It; and (II) Order (A) Enjoining Further Violations and (B) Requiring Dismissal of State Actions. [Doc. No. 9523]. 2 The collective bargaining agreement is DPLSA s sole (incorrect) argument that the DROP Bankruptcy Claim is not a pre-petition general unsecured claim. 2 13-53846-tjt Doc 10265 Filed 11/17/15 Entered 11/17/15 16:34:04 Page 2 of 10
E.D. Mich. 2010) (citing Pennsylvania Dept. of Public Welfare v. Davenport, 495 U.S. 552, 558 (1990)). The DROP Motion asks this Court to elevate the DROP Bankruptcy Claim above all other unsecured claims. DPLSA s request raises two issues. A. Issue 1 - jurisdiction. DPLSA argues that this Court has jurisdiction over the DROP Motion under the following theory: Although the Plan requires the enforcement of rights under the DPLSA CBA to proceed under applicable state law, the City previously filed a motion against the DPLS [sic], which remains pending, and which seeks a finding that the DPLSA is violating the Plan and Confirmation Order by seeking to enforce its rights under the DPLSA CBA under procedures mandated by applicable state law. DROP Motion 3, page 2. DPLSA does not elsewhere address jurisdiction in the DROP Motion. Evidently, therefore, DPLSA now invokes the jurisdiction of the Court on the grounds that the City invoked the Court s jurisdiction in its pending retiree spouse motion. DPLSA does not mention that it opposed the City s invocation of the Court s jurisdiction in the retiree spouse dispute. See DPLSA s Response in Opposition to City of Detroit s Motion for (I) Determination that the Detroit Police Lieutenants and Sergeants Association has Violated the Terms of the City of Detroit s Confirmed Plan of Adjustment and the Order Confirming It; and (II) Order (A) Enjoining Further Violations and (B) Requiring Dismissal of State Actions [Doc. No. 9656] ( DPLSA Response ) at page 7 of 17. The City s retiree spouse motion seeks a determination that the Plan and the City s medical plan documents bar retiree spouses of active DPLSA members from coverage under the City medical plan. DPLSA, in opposing that motion, cited the following Plan jurisdictional provision: 3 13-53846-tjt Doc 10265 Filed 11/17/15 Entered 11/17/15 16:34:04 Page 3 of 10
the Bankruptcy Court will retain exclusive jurisdiction to the fullest extent permitted by law.to: Confirm the maturity date and the terms as written of the collective bargaining agreements on Exhibit II.D.5 of the Plan, which agreements are incorporated as part of the Plan (it being understood that the enforcement, interpretation and resolution of disputes of the terms of the contracts shall proceed under applicable state law). DPLSA Response at page 7 of 17; Plan, Art. VII, Sec. B, pages 69-70. DPLSA argued that this provision deprives this Court of jurisdiction to hear the City s retiree spouse motion and, rather, relegates the dispute to a state forum. Id. Even though DPLSA continues to oppose the City s retiree spouse motion on jurisdictional grounds, it now cites to it as support for this Court s jurisdiction over the DROP Motion. Id. The situations are materially different, however. This Court has jurisdiction to hear the City s retiree spouse motion so as to protect and implement the Plan. Article II.B.3.s. of the Plan unambiguously provides that all City retirees, in consideration for the City s funding of the VEBAs, released the City of any further health care obligations. Plan, pages 42-44. In direct violation of this section of the Plan, DPLSA initiated state court actions in which city retirees (retiree spouses) claimed entitlement to City health care coverage. Brief in Support of City retiree spouse motion at 6. This Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the City s retiree spouse motion because DPLSA s state court actions are a direct attack on the treatment of claims and the implementation of the Plan. Brief in Support of City retiree spouse motion, pages 9-11 (citing Plan, Art. VII, pages 69-70). DPLSA s argument that retiree spouses are entitled to City health coverage under the DPLSA City CBA does not deprive this Court of jurisdiction over the City retiree spouse motion. The CBA provisions cited by DPLSA in the DPLSA Response are silent on the retiree spouse issue so there is nothing in the CBA for the Court to interpet or enforce. Rather, the CBA itself incorporates by reference the City s Medical Plan document. City of Detroit s Reply Brief in Support of its retiree spouse motion at 1-2. [Doc. No. 9855]. That document, in 4 13-53846-tjt Doc 10265 Filed 11/17/15 Entered 11/17/15 16:34:04 Page 4 of 10
turn, is fully consistent with, and implements, the Plan, by expressly prohibiting City coverage for retiree spouses. Id. Nothing in the CBA divests this Court of jurisdiction to address the bankruptcy issues raised by the retiree spouse dispute. Finally, the City properly invoked this Court s jurisdiction in the retiree spouse dispute for that same reason that Judge Rhodes exercised jurisdiction over an Open Meetings Act dispute. City of Detroit s Reply Brief in Support of its retiree spouse motion at 4-5. [Doc. No. 9855]. Core bankruptcy issues, which materially affect the integrity and implementation of the Plan, should be decided by the Bankruptcy Court which is familiar with those issues. For all of those reasons, this Court clearly has jurisdiction over the retiree spouse dispute. In contrast, this DROP dispute does not involve the implementation or enforcement of the Plan. Rather, DPLSA contends that the CBA moots a portion of the DROP Bankruptcy Claim. Consequently, the grounds upon which the City invoked the Court s jurisdiction in the retiree spouse dispute are not present here. Nevertheless, the City would not object to this Court taking jurisdiction over the DROP Motion. The City s primary concern is that this Court, in deciding these threshold jurisdictional issues, be fully informed as to DPLSA s inconsistent positions. Accordingly, the City asks that the DROP Motion be decided in conjunction with the City s retiree spouse motion. A. Issue 2 - merits. As stated above and as DPLSA acknowledged when it filed the DROP Bankruptcy Claim, under black letter bankruptcy law and the Plan, the DROP Bankruptcy Claim is a class 14 unsecured claim. DPLSA, however, argues that section 17(H) of the CBA moots the DROP Bankruptcy Claim. 5 13-53846-tjt Doc 10265 Filed 11/17/15 Entered 11/17/15 16:34:04 Page 5 of 10
The plain language of section 17(H) rejects DPLSA s argument. Section 17(H) does not address the DROP Bankruptcy Claim. Likewise, there is no language in section 17(H) to support the conclusion that it moots the pre-petition arbitration award and the DROP Bankruptcy Claim filed with respect to that award, all of which occurred prior to the CBA taking effect. DPLSA supports its motion with the declaration of Sergeant Mark Young, DPLSA s President. DPLSA motion, exhibit 6C. The declaration states in relevant part (section 9): I participated in the negotiation of the DPLSA CBA, including Article 17, H of the DPLSA CBA, which addresses and, to my understanding, fully resolves the DROP Grievances. That assertion states mere conclusions and, more importantly, cannot alter the plain language of the CBA. 3 CONCLUSION AND RELIEF For the reasons stated, the City asks that the jurisdictional issue raised by the DROP Motion be decided in conjunction with DPLSA s objection to this Court exercising jurisdiction over the City s retiree spouse motion. If this Court reaches the merits of the DROP Motion, the City asks the Court to rule that DROP Bankruptcy Claim is to be treated as class 14 general unsecured claims under the Plan. 3 Young s current understanding is also inconsistent with Young s Memorandum to Kevyn Orr, dated December 1, 2014 (less than one month after the CBA was executed). See Exhibit 1. In that Memorandum, Young refers to DPLSA members subject to the arbitration award as a separate class of employees from those under the CBA and provides three different options for the treatment of their DROP claims. Memorandum at 2. The Memorandum confirms that DROP issues for those members who participated in the arbitration was not addressed, let alone resolved, in the CBA. 6 13-53846-tjt Doc 10265 Filed 11/17/15 Entered 11/17/15 16:34:04 Page 6 of 10
Dated: November 17, 2015 Respectfully submitted, By: /s/ Marc N. Swanson Jonathan S. Green (P33140) Marc N. Swanson (P71149) MILLER, CANFIELD, PADDOCK AND STONE, P.L.C. 150 West Jefferson, Suite 2500 Detroit, Michigan 48226 Telephone: (313) 496-7591 Facsimile: (313) 496-8451 green@millercanfield.com swansonm@millercanfield.com Charles N. Raimi (P29746) Deputy Corporation Counsel City of Detroit Law Department 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center Detroit, Michigan 48226 Telephone: (313) 237-5037 Facsimile: (313) 224-5505 raimic@detroitmi.gov ATTORNEYS FOR THE CITY OF DETROIT 7 13-53846-tjt Doc 10265 Filed 11/17/15 Entered 11/17/15 16:34:04 Page 7 of 10
EXHIBIT 1 13-53846-tjt Doc 10265 Filed 11/17/15 Entered 11/17/15 16:34:04 Page 8 of 10
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UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION In re: City of Detroit, Michigan, Debtor. Bankruptcy Case No. 13-53846 Honorable Thomas J. Tucker Chapter 9 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE The undersigned hereby certifies that on November 17, 2015, he served a copy of CITY OF DETROIT S OBJECTION TO DETROIT POLICE LIEUTENANTS AND SERGEANTS ASSOCIATION S ( DPLSA ) MOTION FOR ENTRY OF AN ORDER MODIFYING CLAIM NO. 1881 FILED BY THE DPLSA TO CLARIFY THAT THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THAT PORTION OF CLAIM NO. 1881 RELATED TO LUMP SUM PAYMENTS FOR BANKED TIME FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM ( DROP ) HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND RENDERED MOOT BY TERMS AS WRITTEN OF THE DPLSA COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AS ADOPTED IN THE CITY S PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT upon the following persons via first class mail: Peter P. Sudnick SudnickLaw, P.C. 2555 Crooks Road, Suite 150 Troy, Michigan 48084 Barbara A. Patek Erman Teicher Zucker & Freedman PC 400 Galleria Officentre, Suite 444 Southfield, MI 48034 13-53846-tjt Doc 10265-1 Filed 11/17/15 Entered 11/17/15 16:34:04 Page 1 of 2
By: /s/ Marc N. Swanson Marc N. Swanson 150 West Jefferson, Suite 2500 Detroit, Michigan 48226 Telephone: (313) 496-7591 Facsimile: (313) 496-8451 swansonm@millercanfield.com DATED: November 17, 2015 13-53846-tjt Doc 10265-1 Filed 11/17/15 Entered 11/17/15 16:34:04 Page 2 of 2